Freeland man admits to weapon, drug charges

POTTSVILLE - A Freeland man is headed to a state prison cell after admitting in Schuylkill County Court that he possessed a loaded handgun, heroin and synthetic marijuana last September in Pottsville.

Louie F. Rivera, 22, must serve three to six years in a state correctional institution under the terms of Judge James P. Goodman's sentence.

Rivera pleaded guilty May 10 to carrying a firearm without a license, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of prohibited possession of a firearm.

Pottsville police charged Rivera with carrying the handgun, 50 packs of heroin with a total street value of $1,000 and numerous packs of synthetic marijuana about 10:15 p.m. Sept. 15, 2012, in the 200 block of North George Street. Rivera was driving a silver Mitsubishi automobile at the time, police said.

First Assistant District Attorney Thomas J. Campion Jr. said he is not sure yet whether prosecutors will seek to have the court order forfeiture of Rivera's car.

Goodman also sentenced Rivera to pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem, and to submit a DNA sample to authorities.

- Peter E. Bortner

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